‘A Better Life’ could have been a better movie

Other than an impressive central performance from Demián Bichir, A Better Life feels too much like an after-school special, rather than a riveting feature film about the important issue of illegal immigration and gang violence in Los Angeles.

Bichir plays Carlos Galindo, a good man trying to care for his teenage son after the loss of his wife. He’s a hard worker, toiling away on the lawns of the rich and famous in the western neighborhoods of the City of Angels. At night, he heads home to his small house in East L.A. With only a few hours to sleep before his next shift, he hardly has time to mentor his son. This leaves young Luis (José Julián) alone for most of the day and susceptible to the local gang activity.

A Better Life, directed by Chris Weitz, means so well that it’s difficult to call it a bad movie. Carlos is such a likable, stand-up person that you root for him the entire film. But the script, written by Eric Eason and based on a story by Roger L. Simon, treats everything as black and white, with little middle ground.

It serves the story well that Carlos is a good guy, so he’s impossibly good. It serves the story well that Luis is impressionable, so he’s impossibly impressionable. Just when something positive happens in the Galindo household, something devastating occurs to knock down their ambitions.

The dialogue can be stilted and the high school scenes when Luis deals with bullies and girlfriends are bordering on comedic.

Still, despite the two-dimensionality of the characters and plot points, A Better Life proves to be an important rallying cry for those looking to put a proper face on the controversial issue of illegal immigration. Carlos is not someone to be feared; he’s a father with boundless love for his son. He has devoted his entire life to turning around the prospects for the next generation. Each bead of sweat that pours down his forehead is well-earned.

I enjoyed Carlos’ company for the 98-minute duration of A Better Life. His work ethic and family commitment are inspiring. Bichir, who was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award for this performance, offers just the right amount of heartbreak to pull at our tear ducts. Unfortunately, he finds himself stuck in a movie that’s unable to match his perfection.

It seems that Carlos and company have been created to serve a purpose, rather than to simply live and breathe organically on the screen. Our central figure is an illegal immigrant, so it’s just a matter of time before the authorities catch up to him. Luis shows a passing interest in joining a gang, so it’s just a matter of time before he starts the recruitment process. All of the character traits and plot occurrences serve the overall story, and rather than making A Better Life a well-rounded film, the structure feels mechanical and hokey.

Weitz, an able director, is able to capture the rough-edge beauty of Los Angeles. With the heat causing wavy lines along the pavement and the storefronts indicating to passersby what neighborhood they’re in, the filmmaker finds the truth and attractiveness of the great Californian city. Los Angeles has never looked more real, more unforgiving, more inspiring. It helps the movie achieve a sense of reality, but it doesn’t overcome the inherent flaws of the story.

Carlos Galindo deserves better … so does the important issue of illegal immigration. A Better Life should be applauded for starting the conversation, but it’s going to take a heavier film to continue the dialogue.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• A Better Life

• 2011

• Directed by Chris Weitz

• Written by Eric Eason; based on a story by Roger L. Simon

• Starring Demián Bichir and José Julián

• Running time: 98 minutes

• Rated PG-13 for some violence, language and brief drug use

• Rating: